Gasket retainer for surface mount fluid component

ABSTRACT

A gasket retainer that is absent sharp corners, has apertures of reasonable dimensional tolerance, and may be conveniently made by a variety of manufacturing processes. The retainer is made from thin flat springy material that readily returns to form after slight bending. Representative gasket capturing apertures are of smoothly non-convex outline with major dimension sufficiently large to allow passage of a ring shaped gasket turned on edge and minor dimension sufficiently small to engage, on approximately opposite circular segments that each engage along less than one third of a gasket circumference, a cavity or groove on the outside diameter periphery of the gasket turned flat parallel to the retainer material sheet. Fasteners may be retained by similar apertures.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/705,996 (the '996 application), filed 6 Dec. 2019, which is adivisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/871,520 (the '520application), filed 15 Jan. 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,502,321 issued on10 Dec. 2019; which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/155,333 (the '333 application), filed 14 Jan.2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,869,409 issued on 16 Jan. 2018; which claimspriority to U.S. provisional application No. 61,848,929, filed 15 Jan.2013 (the '929 application). The '996 application, the '520 application,the '333 application, and the '929 application are all herebyincorporated by reference, in their entireties, as though fully setforth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Implementation of removable fluid pathway joints using gaskets is wellknown. Early examples include the connection of pipe segments describedin the 1920's work of the American Standards Association (ASA B16e-1932)which has been updated and expanded over many years to the presentAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers standard for Pipe Flanges andFlanged Fittings (ASME B16.5-2009). In some situations it is desired tohave a subassembly comprising a gasket positioned by a locating part toensure correct assembly of the joint. U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,572 issued toTaylor and Halling discloses one such example and U.S. Pat. No.6,409,180 issued to Spence and Felber discloses a more recent example.

Representative fluid delivery apparatus are found, for example, amongindustrial equipment producing fine chemicals, petroleum products, orsemiconductors, and may be subjected to vacuum, or pressure, or purityrequirements, and combinations thereof. Fluid pathways among elementsintended for manipulating process materials within semiconductormanufacturing equipment usually require attention to maintaining highpurity of the delivered reactants and also typically have a much smallercross-section than fluid pathways used in petrochemical plants, forexample. Fluid delivery systems for semiconductor manufacturingequipment typically use surface mount components removably attached tosubstrates containing fluid pathways. The interface between eachcomponent and substrate is generally planar with fluid conduit portshaving structural details dependent upon the specific seal design.Example systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,016 issued toManofsky and Fittro, and also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,992,463 and 6,394,138,both issued to the present inventor Kim Ngoc Vu, et al.

A known fluid pathway joint (familiarly called the C-seal joint type)uses a ring-shaped metallic gasket of complex shape compressed betweenopposing apparatus elements wherein the face of at least one element hasa circular counterbore depression to receive the gasket. In someimplementations a separate retainer is provided for holding andcentering the gasket during joint assembly whereby the retainer engagesa cavity or groove on the periphery of the gasket. The retainerillustrated in the previously mentioned Manofsky-'016 system example maybe seen individually in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,582, issued to Swensen, etal. Another counterbore gasket with separate retainer is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,797,604 issued to Inagaki, et al, and that retainer maybe seen individually in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,318 issued to Kojima andAoyama. Yet another counterbore gasket with separate retainer isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,919 issued to Itoi, et al. Anadditional separate retainer for C-seal type joints is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,845,984 issued to Doyle, another retainer is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,945,539 issued to Whitlow, et al, and yet anotherretainer commercially available from Microflex Technologies (Anaheim,Calif.; www.microflexseals.com) is illustrated in FIG. 4 of thisapplication.

The foregoing retainer designs use thin flat sheet metal as the basicmaterial of construction and engage a cavity or groove on the outsidediameter periphery of a gasket. A related but nonmetallic retainer isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,448 issued to Swensen, et al, wherein acircumferential recess of the gasket is engaged by a resilient element.U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,094, issued to Bower and Chase, discloses a flatheater comprised of metallic resistance material and insulating plastictogether forming a structure which may simultaneously serve as aretainer for C-seal gaskets. U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,700, issued to thepresent inventor Kim Ngoc Vu, et al, discloses a retainer that overlapsperipheral projections of a Z-seal gasket (one known variant of a gasketshearing type of seal arrangement) instead of engaging thecircumferential groove of a C-seal gasket.

Illustrated in FIG. 4 is a plan view of a prior art retainer design 400commercially available from Microflex Technologies of Anaheim, Calif.,for use with a two-port surface mount K1S style fluid deliverycomponent. The prior art retainer 400 is made from a thin flat squaremember 410 of stainless steel sheet metal having two circulargasket-capturing apertures 440, 444 for use with known C-seal gaskets(not shown), and four fastener apertures 431, 432, 437, 438 in locationscorresponding to the corner mounting holes of a fluid delivery componentof square shape approximately 1.115-inch by 1.115-inch. Eachgasket-capturing aperture 440, 444 has two cantilevered projections (atotal of four projections in the case of a two-gasket retainer asillustrated) 450, 460, 454, 464 appearing similar to triangular points.Each generally triangular projection is formed by a straight slot,intersecting tangentially to the perimeter of each gasket-capturingaperture, defining one side and an intersected arc segment forminganother side, and each triangle base being contiguous with the remainderof the square member 410. An intervening web of material 480 makes onegasket-capturing aperture 440 distinct from the other aperture 444. Eachfastener aperture 431, 432, 437, 438 has three cantilevered tabsintended to engage external threads passing through. Designers shouldthus appreciate that the prior art retainer 400 has many small sharplocally convex features prone to snagging during handling.

The retainers illustrated in Swensen-'582, Doyle-'984, the MicroflexTechnologies item as FIG. 4 herein, and Swensen-'448, all usecantilevered portions of the retainer to engage a cavity or groove onthe outside diameter periphery of each of one or more C-seal typegaskets. The cantilevered portions of such retainers have severalrelatively sharp projecting corners, are consequently delicate and proneto handling damage, and require manufacturing processes capable offorming thin arms or narrow slots. Additionally, the retainerillustrated in Whitlow-'539 has relatively sharp corners at its“interference region” and needs close dimensional tolerances tocorrectly hold a gasket by engaging a peripheral groove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a retainer for positioning one ormore gaskets in a plane to effect the leak-free joining of conduit portscomprising one or more fluid pathways. The retainer is a flexiblegenerally flat sheet having specially shaped apertures which removablycapture one or more circular gaskets to be held in relative alignmentduring fluid pathway joint assembly. The invention is particularlysuited for, but not limited to, use with high purity fluid handlingcomponents attached to substrates in a surface mount fluid deliverysystem using a plurality of fasteners.

In consideration of the foregoing problems identified in the backgroundportion of this specification, the inventor has developed a gasketretainer that is absent sharp corners, has apertures of reasonabledimensional tolerance, and may be conveniently made by a variety ofmanufacturing processes. The retainer is made from thin flat springymaterial that readily returns to form after slight bending and thereforecan be metallic or of alternate materials as desired. Embodiments of theinventive gasket retainer comprise one or more gasket-capturingapertures and two or more fastener apertures. Each gasket capturingaperture engages a cavity or groove on the outside diameter periphery ofeach respective gasket on opposing circular segments that each engagealong less than one third of a gasket circumference.

One retainer embodiment provides a smoothly concave oblonggasket-capturing aperture of oval outline, with a major diametersufficiently large to allow passage of a C-seal type gasket turned onedge and a minor diameter sufficiently small to engage a cavity orgroove on the outside diameter periphery of the C-seal type gasket whenturned flat and parallel to the retainer material sheet. In anotherembodiment the oval aperture outline corresponds mathematically to anelliptical shape. Apertures of these types have two-fold rotationalsymmetry being identical both when reflected left to right and also whenreflected top to bottom.

Yet another retainer embodiment provides an oblong gasket-capturingaperture with periphery having at least one substantially straightportion, yet also absent any convexity, and having major dimensionsufficiently large to allow passage of a C-seal type gasket turned onedge and minor dimension sufficiently small to engage a cavity or grooveon the outside diameter periphery of the C-seal type gasket when turnedflat and parallel to the retainer material sheet. In another embodimentthe oblong gasket-capturing aperture periphery has at least one portionwith curvature substantially less than an opposite located portion.Apertures of these D-shaped types lack rotational symmetry and areidentical only when reflected left to right (or top to bottom, dependingupon nominal orientation, but not both simultaneously).

Yet another retainer embodiment provides a gasket-capturing aperturewith smoothly non-convex outline wherein three identically shapedperiphery portions may be substantially straight or have relativelylarge curvature. Apertures with three substantially straight portionsappear as an equilateral triangle with convenient radii in place of thecorresponding vertices. Apertures with three portions of relativelylarge curvature appear as a Reuleaux triangle, with convenient radii inplace of the corresponding vertices, similar to the tri-oval form ofmotor vehicle racing course. Apertures of these triangular-shaped typeshave 3-fold rotational symmetry and are identical only when reflectedleft to right (or top to bottom, depending upon nominal orientation, butnot both simultaneously) through a line bisecting a vertex and oppositebase portion. The radii in place of the corresponding triangle verticesare chosen to be small enough to create a sufficiently clear opening toallow passage of a C-seal type gasket turned on edge along each of theidentically shaped aperture periphery portions.

Each non-convex gasket-capturing aperture in a retainer may be forced toadmit a gasket placed coplanar by elastically bending the springyretainer material temporarily. A typical process for inserting a gasketinto a retainer gasket-capturing aperture involves steps of engaging theaperture smaller dimension internal edge into the full depth of thegasket peripheral groove, flexing the retainer material in threedimensions, thereby bringing the aperture larger dimension extremestoward each other while simultaneously distending the opposite smallerdimension internal edge of the aperture to clear the external diameterof the gasket. Then, the gasket can be brought to a position coplanarwith the retainer portion already engaged in the gasket peripheralgroove, and the flexure of the retainer is released to thereby allow theopposite smaller dimension internal edge of the gasket-capturingaperture to also engage the gasket peripheral groove.

In many circumstances it is useful to have fastener apertures in agasket retainer designed to engage a threaded portion of fastenersintended to effect the joint between mating conduit ports. Suchengagement between retainer and thread generally will hold together asan interim subassembly the retainer, fasteners, one or more gaskets, anda component having one of the mating conduit ports, thus making easierthe fluid pathway joining process. One retainer embodiment provides anoblong fastener aperture with a periphery lacking any convexity andhaving a major dimension sufficiently large to allow passage of theoutside diameter of the fastener threaded portion, and a minor dimensionsufficiently small to engage the fastener thread groove without binding.Any non-convex aperture shape suited to a gasket-capturing aperture mayalso be used for a fastener aperture after appropriate dimensionalscaling. Thus, a fastener aperture may be an oval, an ellipse, D-shaped,triangular or tri-oval, for example, and any combinations of theforegoing. A typical process for engaging an externally threaded (male)fastener portion with a fastener aperture involves rotating the fasteneralong the thread axis allowing it to mesh with the fastener apertureminor dimension as if it were a mating (female) internal thread.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a gasket retainer foruse in a fluid delivery system, which comprises a base member formed ofa substantially flat sheet of material and a gasket-capturing aperturedisposed in said base member. Advantageously, the gasket-capturingaperture has an oval periphery along at least a portion thereof, with amajor diameter sufficiently large to allow passage of a circular elementtherethrough and a minor diameter sufficiently small to engage a cavity,groove, or thread on the outside diameter of said circular element.Preferably, at least two fastener apertures are disposed on opposingsides of the gasket-capturing aperture. The oval periphery, in certainembodiments, is smoothly concave and corresponds mathematically to anelliptical shape.

Advantageously, the ellipse major axis dimension is at least about 1.15times (115%) the minor axis dimension, and preferably approximately 1.25times (125%) the minor axis dimension.

The base member is preferably comprised of stainless steel, and has alength and a width, and each of the major and minor diameters of thegasket-capturing aperture are rotated approximately 15 degrees withrespect to corresponding ones of the length and width of the basemember.

In one particular embodiment, the gasket-capturing aperture is D-shaped,and comprises approximately one-half of a larger ellipse which istruncated along the minor diameter by a straight portion blended intocorner curves at opposing ends of the straight portion.

In some embodiments, the periphery of the gasket-capturing aperture isnon-convex.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a gasket retainerfor use in a fluid delivery system, which comprises a base member formedof a substantially flat sheet of material, and a gasket-capturingaperture having a smoothly non-convex periphery, which does not have acontinuously changing curvature. The periphery is defined by threesubstantially identically shaped periphery portions and three curvedradii joining opposing ends of each of the three substantiallyidentically shaped periphery portions, so that the aperture issubstantially triangular in appearance. The aperture defines asufficiently sized opening to allow passage of a circular elementtherethrough between each of the substantially identically shapedperiphery portions and opposing aperture periphery radii, whilesimultaneously maintaining sufficiently small clearance between adjacentpairs of the identically large curvature periphery portions to engage acavity, groove, or thread on the outside diameter of that circularelement.

Preferably, the gasket retainer further comprises at least two fastenerapertures disposed on opposing sides of the gasket-capturing aperture.In some embodiments, the three substantially identically shapedperiphery portions have a relatively large curvature which appearsubstantially straight. The non-convex aperture, in certain embodiments,appears as a Reuleaux triangle or tri-oval shape.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a gasket retainerfor use in a fluid delivery system, which comprises a base member formedof a substantially flat sheet of material and a gasket-capturingaperture having a non-convex periphery disposed in the base memberwherein the gasket-capturing aperture is generally rectangular in shape.The periphery is defined by four similar large radius portions and foursmall curved radii joining adjacent ends of each of the four similarlarge radius portions, and at least one pair of opposite large radiusportions are sufficiently close (diametrically) so as to engage acavity, groove, or thread on the outside diameter of a circular elementsuch as a gasket or a fastener.

The invention, together with additional features and advantages thereof,may be best understood by reference to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings. In theseaccompanying drawings, like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a representative retainer with a gasketinserted;

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the representative retainer illustrated inFIG. 1A without a gasket;

FIG. 1C is a detail view of the gasket-capturing aperture illustrated inFIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D is a cross-section through the gasket-capturing aperture minoraxis with a gasket inserted as in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1E is a cross-section through the gasket-capturing aperture majoraxis with a gasket inserted as in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1F is a perspective view illustrating a process for assembling therepresentative retainer illustrated in FIG. 1 with a known C-sealgasket;

FIG. 2A is a detail view of a fastener aperture illustrated in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2B is a detail view of another fastener aperture illustrated inFIG. 1B;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the representative retainer illustratedin FIG. 1A with gasket and fasteners (but fluid pathway elements areleft out for clarity);

FIG. 2D is a cross-section detail through one fastener apertureillustrated in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 2E is a cross-section detail through another fastener apertureillustrated in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retainer with a D-shapedgasket-capturing aperture;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a commercially available prior artretainer;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a retainer for a two-port surface mount fluiddelivery component;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a retainer for a three-port surface mount fluiddelivery component;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a retainer with a triangulargasket-capturing aperture;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a retainer with a tri-ovalgasket-capturing aperture;

FIG. 8A shows exploded and assembled perspective views of anotherretainer for use with a two-port surface mount fluid delivery componentand a gasket type;

FIG. 8B shows exploded and assembled perspective views of the anotherretainer for use with a two-port surface mount fluid delivery componentand another gasket type;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of another retainer with modified tri-ovalgasket-capturing aperture including fasteners and a single gasket;

FIG. 9B shows plan views of features in the single-gasket retainer ofFIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a dual-gasket retainer having modifiedtri-oval gasket-capturing apertures;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a triple-gasket retainer having modifiedtri-oval gasket-capturing apertures;

FIG. 12A shows a perspective exploded view of the FIG. 10 dual-gasketretainer (having two modified tri-oval gasket-capturing apertures) withinserted gaskets properly oriented above a representative two-portsubstrate;

FIG. 12B shows a perspective exploded view of the FIG. 10 dual-gasketretainer seen from below a surface mount manual valve positioned forassembly upon the representative two-port substrate shown in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 12C shows a perspective exploded view of the FIG. 10 dual-gasketretainer seen from above the surface mount manual valve and two-portsubstrate shown in FIG. 12B;

FIG. 13A shows exploded and assembled perspective views of anotherretainer for use with a two-port surface mount fluid delivery componentand a gasket; and

FIG. 13B shows a plan view with dimensional information related to atypical application of the dual-gasket retainer illustrated in FIG. 13A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to the drawing Figures, wherein likereference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and embodiments, there is shown in FIG. 1A aperspective view of an inventive embodiment of a gasket retainer with aremovably captured C-seal type gasket. The gasket retainer 100 is madefrom a thin flat rectangular piece of sheet material or member 10. Theretainer 100 includes an oblong gasket-capturing aperture 50 with aC-seal gasket 90, of known construction, removably retained therein. Apair of fastener apertures 31, 32 are disposed adjacent diametricallyopposite sides of the gasket. Representative dimensions of the thin flatrectangular member 10 and relative locations of the apertures 31, 32,and 50 are illustrated in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 2A, and 2B for the design of aretainer 100 intended for use with semiconductor equipment fluiddelivery systems. Other applications may require systems havingdifferent dimensions. In such fluid systems the sheet material istypically 0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-series stainlesssteel, but other constructions such a plastic or heater composites arealso feasible. The rectangular retainer 100 may be approximately0.510-inch by 1.115-inch, as might be suitable for use with a two-boltflange connection in a K1S surface mount system. Again, dimensions mayvary considerably within the scope of the present invention. Aperturesmay be cut in the thin flat full hard 300-series stainless steel bychemical etching, fine blanking, laser cutting, and similar commonmanufacturing processes.

The representative oblong gasket-capturing aperture 50 as illustrated inFIG. 1C has a smoothly concave shape of oval outline with a majordiameter 60 sufficiently large to allow passage of a C-seal type gasketturned on edge and a minor diameter 40 sufficiently small to engage acavity or groove on the outside diameter periphery of the C-seal typegasket turned flat and parallel to the retainer material sheet 10. Theinventor has discovered that an aperture with a larger dimension of0.340-inch and a smaller dimension of 0.272-inch provide agasket-capturing aperture 50 that functions well in the instance of theknown C-seal gasket 90. A true mathematical ellipse may convenientlydescribe the gasket-capturing aperture 50 when computer aided design(CAD) methods are used. An ellipse with major axis sized at least 1.15times the minor axis dimension, and preferably approximately 1.25 (125%)times the minor axis dimension, corresponds to the representativeaperture illustrated in FIG. 1C. The gasket-capturing aperture axes 40,60 may also be advantageously rotated approximately 15 degrees withrespect to the coordinate system of the thin flat rectangular member 10as will be explained later below.

A known gasket 90 may be inserted (as illustrated in FIG. 1F) into therepresentative retainer gasket-capturing aperture 50 by engaging theaperture smaller dimension internal edge 42 into the full depth of thegasket peripheral groove 91 (FIG. 1D), flexing the retainer material 10in three dimensions and bringing the aperture larger dimension extremes61, 62 toward each other while simultaneously distending the oppositesmaller dimension internal edge 41 of the aperture to clear the maximumexternal diameter 99 of the gasket. The gasket 90 is then broughtcoplanar with the retainer portion 42 (not visible in FIG. 1F), alreadyengaged in the gasket peripheral groove 91, and releases the flexure ofthe retainer material 10, thus allowing the opposite smaller dimensioninternal edge 41 of the gasket-capturing aperture 50 to also engage thegasket peripheral groove 91. The gasket retention particulars may bemore fully understood by considering the FIG. 1D cross-section view,showing the oppositely located smaller dimension internal edges 41, 42projecting well into the gasket peripheral groove 91. The removabilityof the gasket may be more fully understood by considering the FIG. 1Ecross-section view showing the oppositely located larger dimensionalinternal edges 61, 62 substantially away from the maximum externaldiameter 99 of the gasket.

An example of another embodiment of the inventive gasket retainer isillustrated in FIG. 3 in perspective view, with a removably capturedC-seal type gasket. The retainer 300 is made from a thin flatrectangular member 310 of sheet material. The representative retainer300 has a D-shaped gasket-capturing aperture 350 with a C-seal gasket390, of known construction, removably retained and a pair of fastenerapertures 331, 332 generally located adjacent diametrically oppositesides of the gasket. Skilled designers will appreciate the perimeter ofthis D-shaped aperture is essentially half of a larger ellipse which istruncated along its minor axis by a straight portion 342 blended intocorner curves 361, 362 of suitable radius. The gasket 390 may beinserted into the representative retainer gasket-capturing aperture 350by engaging the ellipse tight radius portion 341 into the full depth ofthe gasket peripheral groove 391, flexing the retainer material 310 inthree dimensions. This brings the ellipse-truncating corners 361, 362toward each other, while simultaneously distending the aperture straightportion edge 342 to clear the maximum external diameter 399 of thegasket. Then, the gasket 390 is brought to an orientation coplanar withthe retainer portion 341, already engaged in the gasket peripheralgroove 391, and releasing the flexure of the retainer material 310 tothereby allow the aperture straight portion edge 342 to also engage thegasket peripheral groove 391.

Yet another embodiment of the inventive gasket retainer is illustratedin FIG. 7A, shown, for clarity, in perspective view with no associatedother hardware. The retainer 700 is made from a thin flat member 710 ofsheet material. The representative retainer 700 has a gasket-capturingaperture 750, with a smoothly non-convex outline wherein threeidentically shaped periphery portions 741, 742, 743 are substantiallystraight and appear as an equilateral triangle with convenient radii747, 748, 749 in place of the corresponding vertices. A gasket (notshown) may be inserted into the representative retainer gasket-capturingaperture 750 by engaging a pair of adjacent straight portions 741, 742into the full depth of a gasket peripheral groove (not shown). Thisinsertion causes the retainer material 710 to flex in three dimensions,thus bringing the corresponding distal radii 747, 748 toward each otherwhile simultaneously distending the third straight portion edge 743 toclear the maximum external diameter (not shown) of the gasket. Thisaction further brings the gasket coplanar with the gasket-capturingaperture portions 741, 742 already engaged in the gasket peripheralgroove, while releasing the flexure of the retainer material 710,allowing the third aperture straight portion edge 743 to also engage thegasket peripheral groove.

Yet a further embodiment of an inventive design gasket retainer isillustrated in FIG. 7B, in perspective view with no associated otherhardware, for clarity. The retainer 701 is made from a thin flat member711 of sheet material. The retainer 701 has a gasket-capturing aperture751 with a smoothly non-convex outline, wherein three identically-shapedperiphery portions 761, 762, 763 of relatively large curvature appear asa Reuleaux triangle, with convenient radii 767, 768, 769 in place of thecorresponding vertices, similar to the tri-oval form of motor vehicleracing course. A gasket (not shown), of known construction, may beinserted into the representative retainer gasket-capturing aperture 751by engaging a pair of adjacent straight portions 761, 762 into the fulldepth of a gasket peripheral groove (not shown). This insertion flexesthe retainer material 711 in three dimensions to bring the correspondingdistal radii 767, 768 toward each other while simultaneously distendingthe third straight portion edge 763 to clear the maximum externaldiameter (not shown) of the gasket. This action, in turn, brings thegasket coplanar with the gasket-capturing aperture portions 761, 762already engaged in the gasket peripheral groove, while releasing theflexure of the retainer material 711, allowing the third aperturestraight portion edge 763 to also engage the gasket peripheral groove.

Skilled designers will appreciate that the perimeter shape of theinventive oblong non-convex (when viewed from inside the aperturelooking outward) gasket-capturing aperture need not have continuouslychanging curvature as defined by an ellipse. A suitably truncated mereportion of an ellipse may be sufficient to form a functional aperture,as can be observed with the D-shaped aperture illustrated in FIG. 3 . Afunctional aperture may also, for example, be formed from short circulararc segments joined by straight lines, in which instance a triangle withcurved corners provides an extreme case as can be observed with theaperture illustrated in FIG. 7A. In the case of a generally tri-ovalaperture as illustrated in FIG. 7B, or even an aperture of oval outlineas in FIG. 1C, the arc segments may have different radii or may all benominally the same. In addition to the flexibility and spring propertiesof the retainer thin flat sheet material, ensuring the gasket capturingaperture has a major dimension sufficiently large to allow passage of aC-seal type gasket turned on edge, and minor dimension sufficientlysmall to engage a cavity or groove on the outside diameter periphery ofthe C-seal type gasket, are primary retainer design considerations. Thelarger major dimension is necessary to allow initial engagement of thegasket peripheral groove with an aperture edge and the smaller minordimension is necessary to retain the gasket after it is inserted.

Consideration of any retainer described in the background portion ofthis application, including the retainer commercially available fromMicroflex Technologies (Anaheim, Calif.; www.microflexseals.com)illustrated in FIG. 4 of this disclosure, reveals that these designs allhave one or more small sharp locally convex features prone to snaggingduring handling and all lack the benign concavity of the instantinvention.

Skilled designers will further appreciate the utility of having fastenerapertures in a gasket retainer designed to engage a threaded portion offasteners present, to thereby generally hold the fasteners and retainertogether as an interim subassembly. This makes easier the fluid pathwayjoining process. Any aperture shape suited to a gasket-capturingaperture may also be used for a fastener aperture after appropriatedimensional scaling. Thus, an exemplary fastener aperture may be anoval, an ellipse, D-shaped, triangular or tri-oval. Any combinations ofthe foregoing aperture choices may be used in a particular retainerdesign.

As noted above, the first retainer embodiment 100 illustrated in FIG. 1Ahas a pair of oblong fastener apertures 31, 32 located adjacentdiametrically opposite sides of the gasket capturing aperture 50. Asillustrated in FIG. 2A, the right fastener aperture 31 has a smoothlyconcave shape of oval outline, with a major diameter 35 sufficientlylarge to allow passage of a fastener thread outside diameter and a minordiameter 33 sufficiently small to engage the fastener thread withoutbinding at the thread root. The fastener aperture axes 33, 35 may alsobe advantageously rotated with respect to the coordinate system of thethin flat rectangular member 10 to accommodate other designconsiderations such as material web width, etc. As illustrated in FIG.2B the left fastener aperture 32 similarly has a smoothly concave shapeof oval outline with a major diameter 36 sufficiently large to allowpassage of a fastener thread outside diameter and a minor diameter 34sufficiently small to engage the fastener thread without binding at thethread root. The major axes 35, 36 of the two fastener apertures are atright angles to each other but any other relative relationship may bechosen by the designer as desired.

The inventor has discovered that a fastener aperture 31, 32 with alarger dimension of 0.178 inch and a smaller dimension of 0.142 inchfunctions well while accommodating both UNC-#8-32 and also M4×0.7 malethreads. A true mathematical ellipse may conveniently describe thefastener aperture 31, 32 when computer aided design (CAD) methods areused. An ellipse with the major axis sized approximately one and aquarter (1.25=125%) times the minor axis dimension corresponds to therepresentative fastener apertures 31, 32 illustrated in FIG. 2A and FIG.2B. A typical process for engaging an externally threaded (male)fastener portion 71, 72 with a fastener aperture 31, 32 involvesrotating the fastener along the thread axis to allow it to mesh with thefastener aperture minor dimension 33, 34 as if it were a mating (female)internal thread. In the first retainer embodiment 100, the relationshipamong fasteners 71, 72, gasket 50, and the retainer rectangular member10 may be further understood by considering a perspective view of theassembled items as illustrated in FIG. 2C, wherein fluid pathwayelements are left out of the illustration for clarity. Thecross-sectional detail in FIG. 2D shows how the minor diameter 33 of thefastener aperture 31 engages approximately the pitch diameter of oneinserted externally threaded fastener 71. The cross-sectional detail inFIG. 2E shows how the major diameter 36 of the fastener aperture 32 issufficiently large to clear the major diameter of another insertedexternally threaded fastener 72.

Surface mount fluid delivery system components with multiple fluidconduit ports are well known and the inventive gasket retainer withmultiple gasket-capturing apertures will benefit from an appropriateaperture orientation. Illustrated in FIG. 5 is a plan view of a retainer500 for use with a two-port surface mount K1S style fluid deliverycomponent. The retainer 500 is made from a thin flat square member 510of sheet material having two oblong gasket-capturing apertures 550, 554for use with known C-seal gaskets (not shown), and four fastenerapertures 531, 532, 537, 538 in locations corresponding to the cornermounting holes of a valve or similar component. The sheet material istypically 0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-series stainlesssteel and the square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by 1.115-inch. Ofcourse, these dimensions are exemplary only, and not required toimplement the inventive concepts. Each gasket-capturing aperture 550,554 has a major axis 560, 564 nominally dimensioned 0.340 inch and aminor axis 540, 544 nominally dimensioned 0.272 inch, similar to thepreviously discussed single-gasket retainer 100. Inappropriateorientation of the adjacent gasket-capturing apertures 550, 554 couldresult in mutual intersection and loss of the intervening material web580 between them because the fluid conduit ports are typically spaced0.305-inch apart. The inventor has discovered that rotating eachgasket-capturing aperture 550, 554 approximately 15 degrees in the samedirection provides a desirable improvement of the intervening materialweb 580 width compared to merely aligning the minor axes 540, 544.Additional handling benefits occur because the corresponding apertureaxes 550, 554 and 560, 564 are made simply parallel rather thancollinear. Consequently, inserting one gasket is less likely to disturbthe retention of an adjacent gasket.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of a retainer600 for use with a three-port surface mount K1S style fluid deliverycomponent. The retainer 600 is made from a thin flat square member 610of sheet material having three oblong gasket-capturing apertures 650,654 for use with known C-seal gaskets (not shown), and four fastenerapertures 631, 632, 637, 638 in locations corresponding to the cornermounting holes of a valve or similar component. The sheet material istypically 0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-series stainlesssteel and the square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by 1.115-inch.Each gasket-capturing aperture 650, 654, 658 has a major axis 660, 664,668 nominally dimensioned 0.340-inch and a minor axis 640, 644, 648nominally dimensioned 0.272-inch similar to the previously discussedretainer 100. Inappropriate orientation of the adjacent gasket-capturingapertures 650, 654, 658 could result in mutual intersection and loss ofthe intervening material webs 680, 681 between them because the fluidconduit ports are typically spaced 0.305-inch apart. The inventor hasdiscovered that rotating each gasket-capturing aperture 650, 654, 658approximately 15-degrees in the same direction provides a desirableimprovement of the intervening material web 680, 681 widths compared tomerely aligning the minor axes 640, 644, 648. Additional handlingbenefits occur because the corresponding aperture axes 650, 654, 658 and660, 664, 668 are made simply parallel rather than collinear andconsequently inserting one gasket is less likely to disturb theretention of an adjacent gasket.

Illustrated in FIG. 8A are exploded and assembled perspective views ofanother retainer 800 for use with a two-port surface mount K1S stylefluid delivery component which is nearly identical to the previouslydescribed dual-gasket retainer 500. The retainer 800 is made from a thinflat square member 810 of sheet material having two oblonggasket-capturing apertures 850, 854 for use with known C-seal gaskets890, 892 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,760 issued to Doyle. Fourfastener apertures 831, 832, 837, 838 are placed in locationscorresponding to the corner mounting holes of a valve or similarcomponent (similar to the further illustration in FIG. 12A-FIG. 12Cdiscussed below). The sheet material 810 is typically0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-series stainless steel andthe square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by 1.115-inch. Of course,these dimensions are exemplary only, and not required to implement theinventive concepts. Each elliptical gasket-capturing aperture 850, 854has a major axis nominally dimensioned 0.340 inch and a minor axisnominally dimensioned 0.272 inch, similar to the previously discussedretainers 100, 500. Indicia shown as triangles 861, 862, 865, 866 areformed on the surface of the sheet material 810 to indicate theorientation of each major axis helping technicians recognize how toinsert removable gaskets 890, 892. Other indicia shapes, such as thinlines for example, may of course be substituted and any suitable cleanpermanent marking method, such as etching or laser scribing, used toform the indicators. Illustrated in FIG. 8B are exploded and assembledperspective views of the same other retainer 800 with alternative knownC-seal gaskets 896, 898 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,739,378 issuedto the present inventor Kim Ngoc Vu. It is important to recognize theinventive retainer is a reusable item, suited to use with many differentgaskets, which may be considered an accessory to a surface mount fluiddelivery component (as discussed in the illustrations of FIG. 12A-FIG.12C further below).

An example of another embodiment of the inventive gasket retainer isillustrated in FIG. 9A in perspective view with a removably capturedC-seal type gasket. The retainer 900 is made from a thin flatrectangular member 910 of sheet material. The representative retainer900 has a modified tri-oval gasket-capturing aperture 950 with a C-sealgasket 990, of known construction, removably retained and a pair offastener apertures 931, 932 generally located adjacent diametricallyopposite sides of the gasket. Skilled designers will appreciate theperimeter of this modified tri-oval aperture 950 (as further revealed inFIG. 9B) is effectively comprised of a medium radius corner 967 matchingthe diameter of the maximal circle enclosed by a Reuleaux triangledefined by three large radius portions 961, 962, 963 which are blendedinto corner curves 968, 969 of suitably small radius. The gasket 990 maybe inserted into the representative retainer gasket-capturing aperture950 by engaging the medium radius portion 967 into the full depth of thegasket peripheral groove 991 while flexing the retainer material 910 inthree dimensions. This action brings the ellipse-truncating corners 968,969 toward each other, while simultaneously distending the interveninglarge radius aperture portion 962 to clear the maximum external diameterof the gasket. Then, the gasket 990 can be brought to an orientationcoplanar with the retainer tight radius portion 967 already engaged inthe gasket peripheral groove 991, and releasing the flexure of theretainer material 910 thereby allows the aperture large radius portion962 to also engage the gasket peripheral groove 991.

Another example of the inventive gasket retainer is illustrated in FIG.10 showing a plan view of a retainer 1000 for use with a two-portsurface mount K1S style fluid delivery component. The retainer 1000 ismade from a thin flat square member 1010 of sheet material having twomodified tri-oval gasket-capturing apertures 1050, 1054 for use withknown C-seal gaskets (not shown), and four tri-oval shaped fastenerapertures 1031, 1032, 1037, 1038 in locations corresponding to thecorner mounting holes of a valve or similar component. The sheetmaterial is typically 0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-seriesstainless steel and the square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by1.115-inch. Of course, these dimensions are exemplary only, and notrequired to implement the inventive concepts. A typical modifiedtri-oval gasket-capturing aperture 1054 is comprised of three largeradius portions 1061, 1062, 1063 joined together by two small radiuscorner curves 1068, 1069 thereby defining the boundary of a Reuleauxtriangle with a medium radius corner 1067 substituted therein. Themedium radius corner 1067 size is chosen to engage a gasket peripheralgroove (not shown) as previously described in the example of a similarsingle-gasket retainer 900 illustrated in FIG. 9A-9B.

Another example of the inventive gasket retainer is illustrated in FIG.11 showing a plan view of a retainer 1100 for use with a three-portsurface mount K1S style fluid delivery component. The retainer 1100 ismade from a thin flat square member 1110 of sheet material having threemodified tri-oval gasket-capturing apertures 1150, 1154, 1158 for usewith known C-seal gaskets (not shown), and four tri-oval shaped fastenerapertures 1131, 1132, 1137, 1138 in locations corresponding to thecorner mounting holes of a valve or similar component. The sheetmaterial is typically 0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-seriesstainless steel and the square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by1.115-inch. Of course, these dimensions are exemplary only, and notrequired to implement the inventive concepts. A typical modifiedtri-oval gasket-capturing aperture 1054 is comprised of three largeradius portions 1161, 1162, 1163 joined together by two small radiuscorner curves 1168, 1169 thereby defining the boundary of a Reuleauxtriangle with a medium radius corner 1167 substituted therein. Themedium radius corner 1167 size is chosen to engage a gasket peripheralgroove (not shown) as previously described in the example of a similarsingle-gasket retainer 900 illustrated in FIG. 9A-9B.

The inventive retainer is a reusable item (as previously noted), suitedto use with many different gaskets, and may be considered an accessoryto a surface mount fluid delivery component as shown in theillustrations of FIG. 12A FIG. 12C. Illustrated in FIG. 12A is aperspective exploded view of the FIG. 10 dual-gasket retainer 1000(having two modified tri-oval gasket-capturing apertures 1050, 1054)with inserted gaskets 1096, 1098 properly oriented above arepresentative two-port surface mount fluid delivery substrate 1200. Therepresentative substrate 1200 has a first fluid conduit port 1250located on a substrate top surface 1210 and fluidly connected to a firsttube stub 1202 projecting from an adjacent substrate surface. Therepresentative substrate 1200 has a second fluid conduit port 1254 alsolocated on the substrate top surface 1210 and fluidly connected to asecond tube stub 1204 projecting from another adjacent substratesurface. Four internally threaded component mounting holes 1231, 1232,1237, 1238 are located near the corners of the generally squarerepresentative substrate 1200. The four tri-oval fastener apertures1031, 1032, 1037, 1038 of the dual-gasket retainer 1000 are located tomatch the position of the component mounting holes. The two modifiedtri-oval gasket-capturing apertures 1050, 1054 are similarly located soas to position the inserted gaskets 1096, 1098 directly in alignmentwith the first 1250 and second 1254 fluid conduit ports. Thus, thespecific location of apertures in a gasket retainer depends upon thegeometry of the corresponding surface mount fluid delivery substrate1200.

Illustrated in FIG. 12B is a perspective exploded view of the FIG. 10dual-gasket retainer 1000 seen from below a surface mount manual valve1290 positioned for assembly upon the representative two-port substrate1200 shown in FIG. 12A. The representative valve 1290 has a first and asecond fluid conduit port (neither visible since obscured by theretainer 1000) located to match the position of the corresponding first1250 and second 1254 fluid conduit ports of the substrate 1200. Fourfastener holes located near the corners of the generally square baseportion of the representative valve 1290 accommodate externally threadedfasteners 1241, 1242, 1247, 1248 intended to engage the correspondingcomponent mounting holes 1231, 1232, 1237, 1238 of the substrate 1200.The externally threaded fasteners 1241, 1242, 1247, 1248 fit through thecorresponding tri-oval fastener apertures 1031, 1032, 1037, 1038 of thedual-gasket retainer 1000 which thereby positions the modified tri-ovalgasket-capturing apertures 1050, 1054 to properly align the gaskets1096, 1098 with the valve 1290 and substrate 1200 fluid conduit ports.Illustrated in FIG. 12C is the perspective exploded view of FIG. 12B asseen from above the surface mount manual valve 1290 and the two-portsubstrate 1200. When viewed from above, the underside of the valve 1290is obscured, and the gaskets 1096, 1098 are not visible, however thefluid conduit ports 1250, 1254 of the substrate 1200 are visible.

Illustrated in FIG. 13A are exploded and assembled perspective views ofanother retainer 1300 for use with a two-port surface mount K1S stylefluid delivery component which is similar to the previously describeddual-gasket retainers. The retainer 1300 is made from a thin flat squaremember 1310 of sheet material having two rectangular gasket-capturingapertures 1350, 1354 for use with known C-seal gaskets 1396, 1398 asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,739,378 issued to the present inventor KimNgoc Vu. The rectangular gasket-capturing apertures 1350, 1354 are eachcomprised of four sides and resemble the outline of a cushion cutgemstone as will be described with reference to FIG. 13B below. Eachrectangular cushion-shaped gasket-capturing aperture 1350, 1354 has amajor axis nominally dimensioned 0.286 inch long and a minor axisnominally dimensioned 0.273 inch long. Four fastener apertures 1331,1332, 1337, 1338 are placed in locations corresponding to the cornermounting holes of a valve 1290, fluid delivery substrate 1200, orsimilar component (similar to the illustration in FIG. 12A-FIG. 12Cdiscussed previously). The four fastener apertures 1331, 1332, 1337,1338 may also be cushion-shaped with a larger dimension of 0.158 inchand a smaller dimension of 0.136 inch for accommodating both UNC-#8-32and also M4×0.7 male threads. Designers will of course appreciate thatany of the many previously discussed fastener aperture types (tri-oval,ellipse, etc.) may be used instead. The sheet material 1310 is typically0.0030(+/−0.0002)-inch thick full hard 300-series stainless steel andthe square shape is approximately 1.115-inch by 1.115-inch. Of course,these dimensions are exemplary only, and not required to implement theinventive concepts.

FIG. 13B shows a plan view with dimensional information related to thecushion-shaped gasket-capturing apertures 1350, 1354 of the dual-gasketretainer 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13A. A typical four sided (nearlysquare) cushion-shaped gasket-capturing aperture 1350 is comprised oftwo opposing concave large radius sides 1362, 1364 swung from a minoraxis, and two opposing similar large (but not necessarily identical)radius concave sides 1361, 1363 swung from a perpendicular major axis.The four corners 1366, 1367, 1368, 1369 where these generally largeradii meet may be made as suitably blended small radii. It is of courseimportant that adjacent gasket-capturing apertures 1350, 1354 have aco-linear axis (either major or minor) to ensure the interveningmaterial web 1380 between them remains intact. The aperture openingdimensions between diagonal corners (e.g. the pair 1367 and 1369, oralternatively the pair 1366 and 1368) are so large that adjacentapertures will intersect if the axes are rotated and this is why theco-linear relationship is desired.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specificexamples and embodiments, it is to be understood that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof.Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting theinvention, but merely as an exemplification of preferred embodimentsthereof and that the invention can be variously practiced within thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gasket retainer for use in a fluid deliverysystem, comprising: a base member formed of a substantially flat sheetof material; a gasket-capturing major aperture having a non-convexperiphery disposed in said base member; and a circular element; whereinthe gasket-capturing major aperture comprises a major diametersufficiently large to allow passage of the circular element therethroughand a minor diameter sufficiently small to engage a cavity, groove, orthread on the outside diameter of said circular element; and wherein thebase member is configured to be flexed and then released during theinstallation of the circular element, wherein the gasket capturing majoraperture is configured to flex with the base member, and wherein theminor diameter is sufficiently large to allow passage of the circularelement therethrough when the base member is flexed.
 2. The gasketretainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the gasket capturing majoraperture is elliptically shaped and smoothly concave.
 3. The gasketretainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the base member comprisesstainless steel.
 4. The gasket retainer as recited in claim 1, whereinthe base member is rectangular shaped.
 5. The gasket retainer as recitedin claim 1, wherein the gasket capturing major aperture comprises afirst gasket capturing major aperture and the gasket retainer furthercomprises a second gasket capturing major aperture.
 6. The gasketretainer as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one fasteneraperture.
 7. The gasket retainer as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising a pair of fastener apertures.
 8. The gasket retainer asrecited in claim 7, wherein the pair of fastener apertures arediametrically opposed across the gasket-capturing major aperture.
 9. Agasket retainer for use in a fluid delivery system, comprising: a basemember formed of a substantially flat sheet of material; and agasket-capturing major aperture having a non-convex periphery disposedin said base member; wherein the gasket-capturing major aperturecomprises a major diameter sufficiently large to allow passage of acircular element therethrough and a minor diameter sufficiently small toengage a cavity, groove, or thread on the outside diameter of saidcircular element, and comprises approximately one-half of a largerellipse which is truncated along the minor diameter by a straightportion blended into corner curves at opposing ends of the straightportion, and wherein the base member is configured to be flexed and thenreleased during the installation of the circular element, wherein thegasket capturing major aperture is configured to flex with the basemember, and wherein the minor diameter is configured to be sufficientlylarge to allow passage of the circular element therethrough when thebase member is flexed, wherein the gasket capturing major aperturecomprises a first gasket capturing major aperture and the gasketretainer further comprises a second gasket capturing major aperture. 10.The gasket retainer as recited in claim 9, wherein the base membercomprises stainless steel.
 11. The gasket retainer as recited in claim9, wherein the gasket-capturing major aperture is D-shaped.
 12. Thegasket retainer as recited in claim 9, wherein the base member isrectangular shaped.
 13. The gasket retainer as recited in claim 9,further comprising at least one fastener aperture.
 14. The gasketretainer as recited in claim 9, further comprising a pair of fastenerapertures.
 15. The gasket retainer as recited in claim 14, wherein thepair of fastener apertures are diametrically opposed across thegasket-capturing major aperture.
 16. A gasket retainer for use in afluid delivery system, comprising: a base member formed of asubstantially flat sheet of material; and a gasket-capturing majoraperture having a non-convex periphery disposed in said base member;wherein the gasket-capturing major aperture comprises a major diametersufficiently large to allow passage of a circular element therethroughand a minor diameter sufficiently small to engage a cavity, groove, orthread on the outside diameter of said circular element, and comprisesapproximately one-half of a larger ellipse which is truncated along theminor diameter by a large radius portion blended into corner curves atopposing ends of the large radius portion, and wherein the base memberis configured to be flexed and then released during the installation ofthe circular element, wherein the gasket capturing major aperture isconfigured to flex with the base member, and wherein the minor diameteris configured to be sufficiently large to allow passage of the circularelement therethrough when the base member is flexed, wherein the gasketcapturing major aperture comprises a first gasket capturing majoraperture and the gasket retainer further comprises a second gasketcapturing major aperture.
 17. The gasket retainer as recited in claim16, further comprising a pair of fastener apertures.
 18. The gasketretainer as recited in claim 17, wherein the pair of fastener aperturesare diametrically opposed across the gasket-capturing major aperture.